Traffic signal



Nov. 26, 1935. N. G. CAMPION 2,021,954

TRAFFIC SIGNAL 7 Filed March 23, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Snnentor Noe/v4 G CAMP/am Nov. 26, 1935. N. GQCAMPION 2,021,954

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed March 23, 1952 s Sheets-$heet 2 Z'mventor I/YOE/WAJ/V G. CAMP/ON 3g @W W (Ittotneg Nov. 26, 1935. CAMPIQN 2,021,954

TRAFFIC S I GNAL Filed March 23, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Enoentor Patented Nov. 26 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to traffic signals, and the objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a traffic signal which graphically indicates the length of time remaining before the signals change;

Second, to provide a traflic signal which is a driven by a synchronous electric clock mechanism whereby the signal may be attached to the nearest power line thereby eliminating the necessity of installing special wiring or a special wiring system for control of the signals;

Third, to provide a traffic signal which is particularly economical of operation in that an inappreciable amount of power is required to operate the moving parts thereof;

Fourth, to provide a traffic signal which may be installed quickly, easily and economically by reason of the elimination of a wiring system connecting the signals of the four corners of an intersection or the corners of adjacent intersections, thereby providing a trafi'ic signal which is particularly suited for outlying independent intersections, that is intersections which need not be controlled in any particular relation with other corners or intersections provided with signals;

Fifth, to provide a traflic signal which although suited for outlying installation is also adapted for group installation inasmuch as the synchronous motors driving the several signal units may be initially set in their proper sequenttial order and thereafter be maintained in such order by reason of their association with their common source of current supply;

Sixth, to provide a traffic signal which is visible from a great distance, and

Seventh, to provide on the whole a novelly constructed traflic signal which is simple of construction, durable, efficient in its action, and which will not readily deteriorate or get out of order.

With these and other objects in view as will appear hereinafter, my invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly '-set forth in the appended claim, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the characters of reference thereon which form a part of this application, in which:

Figure l is an elevational view of my novel trafllc signal with parts and portions broken away and in section to facilitate the illustration; Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional view through 22 of Fig. 1 with parts and portions is a fragmentary view similar to Figs. 5 and 6 14 when thesignal is about to change from Stop to Go, and Fig. 8 is a wiring diagram of one unit of my novel traffic signal.

It will be here noted that the drawing of the wiring is only schematic and in practice the is usual expedient for parallel operation should be used or the tubes connected in series.

Similar characters of reference refer to similar parts and portions throughout the several views of the drawings. 20

Casing l, doors 2, panels 3 and 4, electric clock mechanism 5, shutter shaft 6, variable speed driving means I, shutter shaft bearings B and 9, shutter shaft I0, reversing gears ll, shutter shaft bearing I2, shutters I3 and I4, ring pans 25 I5, time warning tubes l6,- l1 and I8, indicia' pans l9 and 20, gas tubes indicating Go? 2|, gas tubes indicating Stop 22, face plates 23, contact drum 24, contact riders 25, supporting bracket 26, tension springs 21, transformers 28, 30 and audible signal 29, constitute the principal parts and portions of my novel traffic signal.

A casing I is provided which may be in the form of a rectangular frame open at its opposite sides. These sides may be equipped with doors 35 2 having glass portions. Inwardly from each open side the casing I is provided with supporting ridges la which support the margins of panels 3 and 4.

The panel 3 supports adjacent its central por- 40 tion an electric clock 5. The electric clock 5 is connected to a shutter shaft 6 by means of a variable speed driving means I of any suitable nature. The shutter shaft is supported in a bearing 8 secured to a side of the clock me'cha- 4 nism and in a; bearing 9 supported by the panel 3, the shutter shaft 6 extending through the panel 3 and bearing 9. A second shutter shaft I0 is provided which may be disposed in concentric relation with the shutter shaft 6. An end of the shutter shaft I0may journal in an end of the shutter shaft 6 and be driven from the shutter shaft 6 by means of reversing gears H, one gear being on the shaft 6, another gear on the shaft l0, and a third gear connecting them so that the shaft l0 revolves in the opposite direction to the shaft 6. The extended end of the shaft l0 projects through the panel 4 and journals in a bearing I2.

Secured to the ends of the shutter shafts 6 and I0, respectively, are shutters l3 and It. The

shutters are spaced from their respective panels and are annular. Their peripheries are provided with inturned rims 13a, and Ma, respectively, which project towards their respective panels 3 and 4. Mounted on the panels 3 and 4 underneath the peripherial portions of the shutters l3 and I 4 are ring pans I5. These pans are in the form of channel members bent to form a circle. Mounted in the ring pans l5 by any conventional means are time warning tubes l6, l1, and I8, these members being constructed from the conventional illuminable gas tubes. warning tubes 6 are approximately semi-circular and are disposed adjacent the inner, that is the radially inner, walls of the ring pans l5 and occupy the upper half of these pans. The tubes "5 coact with the Go signalling portion of the traflic signal which will be described hereinafter.

The warning tubes IT and I8 coact with the Stop signalling portion of the traffic signal. The warning tubes l1 and I8 are arranged in concentric relation with the warning tubes 16 but are disposed radially outwardly therefrom so that they may overlap the warning tubes l6. At a point diametrically opposite the central portion of the corresponding warning tube I 6, the one ends of the tubes II and i8 are arranged in abutting relation. The remaining extremities of the tubes l1 and I8 overlap the extremities of the corresponding tube I 6 a short distance. By painting out the extremities of the tubes l6, l1 and I8 the illuminable extent of these tubes may be varied thereby varying the percent of the circle occupied by the several tubes.

The marginal portions of the shutters I3 and M are provided with arcuate slots I3b and [4b, respectively, which register with the ring pans l5 and consequently expose the warning tubes l6, H, and H5. The slots I31) and Nb extend the full extent of the warning tubes l1 and I8, the illuminated portions of which preferably occupy more than half a circle, in order to provide waiting periods in which the four trafiic signals at a particular intersection indicate Stop.

Mounted above and below the shutters l3 and 14 are indicia pans l9 and 2B which receive gas tubes indicating the word Go, designated 2|, and gas tubes indicating the word Stop, designated 22, respectively. The indicia pans l9 and 2t may be formed integral with or set in face plates 23 which cover the pans between the shutters and margins of the casing.

Secured to one of the shutters, in the structure illustrated the shutter I4, is a contact drum 24 which is provided with insulated portions 24a and contact strips 241) which are engaged by contact riders 25 supported from a common bracket 26 and held in yieldable engagement with the contact drum by means of tension springs 21. Certain of the contact riders are connected to the primary coils of transformers 28. One of the contact riders 25 is electrically connected with an audible signal 29 while the remaining contact rider joins the drum with a source of current supply.

The

Operation of my trafllc signal is as follows: The time warning tubes l6 and the Go indicating tubes 2| may be connected to the same transformer and are preferably colored green or blue. These tubes are illuminated when the trailing edge of corresponding slot l3b or b is about to pass over the warning tubes 16, This condition continues until the shutters have completely covered the warning tubes. In other words, the warning tubes and Go indicating tubes, l6 and 2! respectively, are illuminated while the shutters move from the position shown in Fig. 5 to the position shown in Fig. 6, whereupon the Stop indicating tubes 22 and warning tubes I1 and I8 become illuminated and continue so until the shutters have completely covered the warning tubes l1, whereupon'these tubes are disconnected. In order to accomplish this, the tubes H are connected to a separate transformer. The warning tubes l8 and Stop indicating tubes 22 continue to be illuminated until the shutters reach the position shown in Fig. 5. By watching the warning tubes it is possible to determine the period remaining before the signal changes.

It will be noted that in place of the gas tubes ordinary electric light bulbs may be used over which are positioned glass plates having translucent or transparent portions arranged to form the desired words and the particular configura' tion of the time Warning means.

It will also be noted that the slots I3a and 14a in the shutters may have an arcuate extent somewhat less than that of the Go warning tubes, in which case a single tube may replace each pair of tubes I! and I8 forming the Stop warning and the operation is the same as that heretofore described. The trailing edge of the slots I31) and Nb and their position toward the end of the warning tubes indicate the time of change of signal.

It will also be noted that the clock mechanism need not be electrical or synchronous when the installation is at isolated intersections which do not require operation in any particular order or relation with other intersections.

Though I have shown and described a particular construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions, I do not wish to be limited to this particular construction, combination and arrangement but desire to include in the scope of my invention the construction, combination and arrangement substantially as set forth in the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

In a traffic signal, a plurality of arcuate illu-v minable sign elements arranged to form a ring, the extremities of said sign elements overlapping arcuately, and adapted to emit contrastingly colored lights, means for operating. said sign element in sequential order, a revoluble shutter disposed in front of said sign elements arranged to blot out and diminish the effective extent of each sign element during its period of operation, and

means to cover and render ineffective portions of the arcuately overlapping extremities of said sign elements whereby the apparent arcuate extents of-said sign elements may be variously determined.

NORMAN G. CAMPION. 

